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Friday, July 15, 2016

Paint Along 7: Actual Paint! from guest photographers

Bet you thought we would NEVER get to this point, where actual paint gets applied to actual machines. I'm trying not to apologize too much for the train-wreck derailment of this paint along, but it is hard to restrain myself. Hey, I'm an old lady (67 later this month, which is old for some and only middle aged for others) and have a lot of annoying but not serious issues. Did you know, for example, that you can suddenly develop lactose intolerance? Took me 3 month to figure out what was going on, but once I nixed the dairy I experienced a miraculous recovery. Enough of that, and back to the sewing machines.

Way way back last year when I actually started this paint along, two of my readers were kind enough to send photos of the machines they are working on. They have undoubtedly been wondering when those photos would show up here. Wonder no more!

She has a green Husqvarna with a crinkle finish. She finds it hard to clean the crinkle. I have had the same experience with black crinkle Singers and have the same discontent for the same reason. Crinkle (also known as a Godzilla finish): you either love it or hate it.

photo by Eleanor

photo by Eleanor

Below she demonstrates a method for removing a stubborn foot pressure controller. for the best possible paint job it really is worth taking the time to remove every removeable bit from your machine

photo by Eleanor

Last time I heard from Eleanor (in January, yes I hang my head in shame for taking so long) she was planning to paint it red. Please write in, Eleanor, and let us know how it is going.

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Ila has a very sad and pathetic looking Featherweight. I broke my own rule of not challenging anything that anyone wants to do with THEIR OWN MACHINE and tried to talk her out of choosing this as her first machine to paint. FWs have a lot of value and a good paint job only enhances that value. Hammered paint is not the traditional finish and I was worried about her doing something that would lower that value. Fortunately she ignored me. When you see her machine you will realize that the value was nil in its previous condition. Well, maybe not nil. Even a decrepit FW has some value.

photo by Ila

Ila's FW is named Vyolette, after her husband's grandmother. Lovely name.

photo by Ila

Although this looks fine to me, she was not satisfied with it and planned to do something else last time I heard from her. How is it going, Ila?

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and here at DragonPoodle Studio I have begun painting Nellie's Singer 99, which will be a lovely pink. That post is coming SOON. Maybe you are skeptical, having heard this before. But the first two coats are on, and photos of that are already edited and ready to go.

Also coming: an interview with my personal paint guru, Hugh Loftin, my late husband's BF, who has 43 years experience in the paint industry. There is nothing about paint or the paint industry that he does not know. And he revealed the mysteries of hammered paint for us. Coming soon!

4 comments:

I have a Godzilla Singer, too. I'm NOT a fan of that paint. I'd like to strip if off, but, don't know if it is possible, unless I get it powder coated. Not worth that much trouble. I'd like to see if the hammered paint on E's machine worked or not. Red is always a good color. My Featherweight is painted purple (I got it that way). Whoever did it, didn't prime it, and, the paint chips easily. I've found some paint that I can fix the chips with, thank goodness. Love my purple FW.

Very interesting about the purple FW, and I will include that in the next blog post. I've seen your photos of it and drooled. My paint guy says that the hammered paint is self-priming, so I am hoping that the FW Ila is paining won't have that problem.

If you like the hammered look (even if you only like it a bit better than Godzilla) why not just sand Godzilla Girl lightly and paint over it. the texture of the hammered finish SHOULD cover it. You could do a great service to humanity and confirm this guess for us!

I've been neglecting this blog, sorry! Started a new job and things have been way too busy. The hammered finish is holding up very nicely, and had only chipped when I dropped a hand wheel on the edge. Tiny little chip that only I can see, apparently.

I've been neglecting this blog, sorry! Started a new job and things have been way too busy. The hammered finish is holding up very nicely, and had only chipped when I dropped a hand wheel on the edge. Tiny little chip that only I can see, apparently.

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